Eze 25:11-14 | KingComments | STEP | The next word from the LORD concerns Moab with whom Seir – that is, the territory of Edom – is mentioned in the same breath ( ). The Moabites, like the Ammonites, are related to Israel through Lot ( ). Moab despises Israel as a special people chosen by the LORD. To them, the house of Judah is like all the other nations. In doing so, they despise the LORD Himself, Who has chosen that people to be His people. Judah is certainly also to blame for this contempt, but the LORD blames Moab for its arrogant, condemning attitude. Someone who acts this way is completely blind to his own sins and brings judgment on himself. Therefore the LORD will judge Moab ( ). His border guards will be unable to do anything against advancing enemies. The cities of which they are proud, with which they flaunt like an ornament, will be destroyed. They will be taken possession of by people from the east, the Arab and Syrian Bedouin tribes ( ; ). The memory of them among the nations will disappear. While this too is a severe judgment, it seems to be less severe and radical than that on the Ammonites ( ). The judgments will force the Moabites to acknowledge that He is the LORD ( ).

‏ Ezekiel 25:11-14

Judgment on Moab

The next word from the LORD concerns Moab with whom Seir – that is, the territory of Edom – is mentioned in the same breath (Eze 25:8). The Moabites, like the Ammonites, are related to Israel through Lot (Gen 19:36-38). Moab despises Israel as a special people chosen by the LORD. To them, the house of Judah is like all the other nations. In doing so, they despise the LORD Himself, Who has chosen that people to be His people. Judah is certainly also to blame for this contempt, but the LORD blames Moab for its arrogant, condemning attitude. Someone who acts this way is completely blind to his own sins and brings judgment on himself.

Therefore the LORD will judge Moab (Eze 25:9). His border guards will be unable to do anything against advancing enemies. The cities of which they are proud, with which they flaunt like an ornament, will be destroyed. They will be taken possession of by people from the east, the Arab and Syrian Bedouin tribes (Eze 25:10; Eze 25:4). The memory of them among the nations will disappear. While this too is a severe judgment, it seems to be less severe and radical than that on the Ammonites (Eze 25:7). The judgments will force the Moabites to acknowledge that He is the LORD (Eze 25:11).

Judgment on Edom

The third judgment is pronounced by the LORD on Edom (Eze 25:12), which is Esau. Edom is much more closely related to Israel than Ammon and Moab. Esau is the brother of Jacob. So Edom is in a literal sense a brother people. With Edom, however, there has never been any brotherly affection. He has acted against Judah more than any other hostile people out of vindictiveness. Edom has incurred a heavy debt by taking revenge on Judah out of sheer vindictiveness. The vindictiveness toward Judah is in Esau’s blood.

God will stretch out His hand in judgment against Edom (Eze 25:13). This will be a radical judgment. Man and beast will be cut off. In other cases, cities are destroyed and people cut off, but a dwelling place for animals remains. This is not even the case with Edom. The whole land, from Teman in the extreme north to Dedan in the extreme south, will be given up to destruction.

For the destruction of Edom, God will use His people Israel (Eze 25:14; Oba 1:18). His people will cause His anger and wrath to come upon that nation. Edom was first invaded by the Babylonians and later destroyed by the Arabs. In the time of the Maccabees, Edom was completely conquered by the Jews. In the end time the final judgment will come on Edom. There seems to be no recognition with Edom that He is the LORD, as we find with the other nations in this chapter. They will only know the vengeance of the Lord GOD.